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Healthy Granola Recipe
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We know, we know…another granola recipe? Yes…and dare we say ours is one of the best out there!
This healthy granola recipe is so good, thanks to a mistake! When thinking up this recipe, our recipe developer had little toddler hands helping out. When what seemed to be an unrescuable cinnamon spill happened, we figured we’d chalk it up as a loss. Turns out, this “mistake” came out super delicious and even better than our original recipe! When life gives you cinnamon…isn’t that how the saying goes?
Sometimes, kids really know best, and this was certainly true for our healthy granola recipe.
Another reason we love this homemade granola recipe is its simplicity. With just 5 ingredients (cinnamon included), this recipe doesn’t get much easier. Plus, we totally hacked the crunchy clusters trick, so keep reading to find out how to get the most crunch in your granola.
How to make homemade granola
Granola is really very simple to make. Mix oats with a liquid sweetener (we used maple syrup), healthy fat, and seasoning of your choice (the most common is cinnamon, but you could use nutmeg, allspice, etc.). Bake in the oven in an even layer until crispy and brown.
This is the perfect make-ahead granola to store in your pantry. It’s perfect for a quick and easy breakfast on top of Greek yogurt with fruit or as a sweet snack, plain or over milk. Your house will smell so fragrant while this bakes. Our homemade healthy granola will easily make the weekly staple list in your home in no time.
Homemade Granola Ingredients
Oats
Old-fashioned rolled oats work best texturally for this recipe. We used these. If you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, be sure to look for certified gluten-free oats.
Coconut oil
We think coconut oil gives this homemade healthy granola a slightly nutty flavor. First, melt it down in a microwave until it is a liquid and not a solid. If you want something more neutral in flavor, substitute avocado oil with the same amount. As extra-virgin olive oil has a stronger flavor, we typically would not recommend using it for granola.
Maple syrup
Our sweetener of choice for this recipe is none other than maple syrup. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and fits so well with a breakfast recipe. Alternatively, you could use agave or honey, but we recommend sticking (no pun intended) to liquid sweeteners only (i.e., no brown sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar).
Cinnamon
The star of the show! Our recipe uses more cinnamon than most (one tablespoon), and no, it’s not a typo! A toddler with a big opinion said, “We need more!” And boy, was she right—it made for our best granola recipe yet!
Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Pumpkin seeds add a bit of crunch and color to our granola. Buy these raw and let them get freshly toasted in the granola. If you prefer to use nuts (like slivered almonds, pecans, or chopped walnuts), you could add any that you like. Be sure to add them only during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, as they will burn if kept in from the beginning of cooking time. Using pumpkin seeds keeps this recipe nut-free, which might be better for some families and school snacks. Another option would be sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or shredded coconut (coconut flakes) to get that crunch.
Salt (optional)
We like a pinch of salt to offset the sweetness in this recipe. We think it helps with balance, but you could omit it if you prefer.
Healthy Granola Recipe
Granola is really very simple to make. Mix oats with a liquid sweetener (we used maple syrup), healthy fat, and seasoning of your choice (the most common is cinnamon, but you could use nutmeg, allspice, etc.). Bake in the oven in an even layer until crispy and brown.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- pinch of salt Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt and mix well.
- Spread evenly onto a baking sheet with a lip/edge and spread out, pressing into the edges. (The baking sheet does not need to be lined or sprayed)
- Bake for about 20 minutes. Take out and shake up or use a spatula to mix around lightly. Add raw pumpkin seeds and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container. (This will help it not to get stale.)
Nutrition
Serving: 0.1gCalories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSugar: 7g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Homemade Granola FAQs
How many days does homemade granola last?
Homemade granola will probably not last long in your house because it’s so tasty! However, on the off chance you can ration it out, it does store well. This recipe can be stored for 2-4 weeks in an airtight container (we like to use a glass jar with a lid). This granola will still be tasty at 4 weeks but may lose some of its crunch and freshness.
How do you get granola clusters?
Of course, the most desired part of any bag of granola is the big clusters. We find that using baking sheets with an edge helps tremendously. Press the granola against the edge of the lip of the baking sheets before baking. When done, you will find that the edges have mostly stuck together, and you can break them off into clusters.
What should you eat granola with?
While you can definitely just eat it on its own, homemade granola pairs well with many other foods. Try granola with a dollop of almond butter or peanut butter, on top of yogurt with fresh fruit, or as a crunchy topper on smoothie bowls. You can also eat it like cereal (pour some milk or almond milk on top) or mix it with dried fruit (we love chopped dried apricots and dried cranberries), chocolate chips, and your favorite nuts for an on-the-go trail mix snack.
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